Petunia-Calibrachoa plant named ‘Kakegawa S90’

ABSTRACT

‘Kakegawa S90’ is a new  Petunia - Calibrachoa  hybrid particularly distinguished by having a purple flower color, medium-large flower size and a semi-creeping growth habit.

Genus and species: Petunia×Calibrachoa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Kakegawa S90’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPetunia-Calibrachoa and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name‘Kakegawa S90.’ It is characterized by having a purple flower color,medium-large flower size and semi-creeping growth habit. The newcultivar originated from a hybridization in Kakegawa, Japan in May of2003. The male parent was a proprietary hybrid Calibrachoa line named‘04-62’, having a deep blue flower color, medium flower size and acreeping plant habit. The female parent was a proprietary hybrid Petunialine named ‘04H-64’, having a light purple flower color, medium flowersize and mounding plant habit.

In May 2003, the new Petunia-Calibrachoa variety was developed using anintergeneric cross between a Petunia hybrid and a Calibrachoa hybridspecies. After crossing the parent lines, 1,530 ovules were removed fromflowers on the female parent and cultured by standard ovule culturetechniques. In December 2003, 12 intergeneric hybrid plantlets weretransplanted to soilless media for greenhouse culture and acclimization.

In March 2004, 10 plants out of 12 hybrid lines were vegetativelypropagated to produce rooted cuttings. In April 2004, the 10 plants weretransplanted to an open field and evaluated for flower color and plantgrowth habit through July. In August 2004, ‘Kakegawa S90’ which has amedium-large flower, purple color and semi-creeping plant growth habitwas selected and vegetatively propagated.

In September 2004, 10 cuttings were evaluated in an open field throughNovember 2004. The selection subsequently was named ‘Kakegawa S90’ andfound to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Kakagawa, Japan.

-   -   1. Purple flower color;    -   2. Medium to large size flowers; and    -   3. A semi-creeping plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Petunia-Calibrachoa plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs of an 8-month-old plant which show the plant's form, foliageand flowers. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows overall plant habit.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Kakegawa S90’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inSalinas, Calif. The detailed description was taken from plants grownunder greenhouse conditions for approximately 8 months fromtransplanting of rooted cuttings. Color references are to the R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (RHS), 4^(th)Edition.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Solanaceae.        -   Species.—Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid.        -   Common name.—Petunia-Calibrachoa.-   Parentage:    -   -   Male.—Hybrid proprietary Calibrachoa breeding line ‘04-62’.        -   Female.—Hybrid proprietary Petunia breeding line ‘04H-64’.-   Plant description:    -   -   Life cycle.—Tender perennial.        -   Form.—Decumbent, branching.        -   Habit.—Spreading.        -   Height.—18.0 cm to 20.0 cm.        -   Spread.—90.0 cm to 100.0 cm.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cuttings.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.        -   Time to bloom from propagation.—8 to 10 weeks.-   Environmental conditions for plant growth: The terminal 1.0 to 1.5    inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The vegetative    cuttings were propagated in four weeks. The base of the cuttings was    dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a 1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1    solution:9 water) root inducing solution immediately prior to    sticking into the cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell    trays having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based    growing medium. For the first week, the cuttings were misted with    water from overhead for 20 seconds, one time per hour. For the    second week, the cutting were misted one time every 2 hours for 10    seconds. After that time, the cuttings were misted occasionally    until sufficient roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were    transplanted and grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass    greenhouse located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat    moss-based growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20%    nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or    every other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with a    dry, slow release fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus    and 18% potassium. The typical average air temperature was 24° C.-   Stems:    -   -   Stem color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Anthocyanin color.—Slightly present on stems, RHS N77C            (Purple).        -   Pubescence.—Medium.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (White).        -   Stem description.—Round.        -   Stem diameter.—2.0 cm to 3.0 cm.        -   Stem length.—Approximately 2.0 cm from soil line to first            node.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Surface.—Dull.        -   Surface pubescence.—Slight.        -   Pubescence color.—RHS N155A (white).        -   Venation.—Pinnate.        -   Length.—3.0 cm to 5.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm to 2.0 cm.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B (Green). Lower surface: RHS            138B (Green).        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Flowers:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Indeterminate.        -   Flower type.—Solitary.        -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as day length is            greater than 12 hours and temperature exceeds 13° C.        -   Duration of flowers.—5 days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Corolla.—5 petals, fused.        -   Corolla shape.—The flowers are funnel shaped with five            fissures and a shallow, yet slight, indentation of the petal            tip at the midvein.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Surface.—Pubescent.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate.        -   Color.—RHS 149B (Yellow-green).        -   Peduncle.—Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter: 0.5 cm.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower depth.—3.0 cm to 3.5 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—3.0 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—5.0 cm to 6.0 cm.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144B (Yellow-green).        -   Calyx.—5 sepals fused below the middle.        -   Sepals.—Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Obtuse. Sepal color: RHS            137B (Green).        -   Petals.—Shape: Spatulate. Length: 2.0 cm to 3.0 cm. Width:            1.5 cm. Apex: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Glabrous.            Color: Limb color: Upper surface: RHS N74A (Red-purple) with            RHS N77A (Purple) veins. Lower surface: RHS N74C            (Red-purple) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins.        -   Corolla tube color.—Inner: RHS N77A (Purple) throat, inner            tube is RHS 3A (Yellow) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins. Outer:            RHS N77B (Purple) with RHS N77A (Purple) veins.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5, free.        -   Stamen color.—Anther color is RHS 1C (Green-yellow).            Filament color: RHS 1C (Green-yellow).        -   Pollen-color.—RHS 9A (Yellow).        -   Ovary.—Superior.        -   Placenta arrangement.—Central.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—2.0 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 149A (Yellow-green).        -   Style length.—1.5 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 149C (Yellow-green).-   Fruit/seed set: No fruit and seeds produced.-   Disease and insect resistance: ‘Kakegawa S90’ has excellent    resistance to rain, heat and drought. A temperature below 10° C. is    not optimal. Plants are susceptible to Botrytis, powdery mildew,    various stems and root rots, and certain viruses, like Tobacco    Mosaic Virus and Impatiens Necrotic Spotted Virus. Plants can be    infested with aphids, leafminer, whitefly and various Lepitopdera.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN CULTIVARS

In comparison with its parental lines, Calibrachoa ‘Kakegawa S90’ is adistinct variety of Petunia-Calibrachoa due to its medium to largeflowers, purple flower color and semi-creeping growth habit. ‘KakegawaS90’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color and plantgrowth habit as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Female Parent: Male Parent: Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S90’‘04H-64’ ‘04-62’ Flower color Purple Light purple Deep blue Plant growthhabit Semi-creeping Mounding Creeping

Calibrachoa ‘Kakegawa S90’ is a distinct variety of Petunia-Calibrachoadue to its purple flower color and semi-creeping growth habit. ‘KakegawaS90’ is most similar to the variety ‘Dancalipet’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.16,063); however, there are differences in the petal color and plantgrowth habit as described in the table below (color references are toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 4^(th) edition):

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Kakegawa S90’ ‘Dancalipet’ Limb color, RHS N74A(Red-purple) with RHS 74A (Red-purple) upper surface RHS N77A (Purple)veins Limb color, RHS N74C (Red-purple) with RHS 75A (Purple) lowersurface RHS N77A (Purple) veins Plant growth Semi-creeping Compact habit

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Petunia-Calibrachoa hybrid plant asshown and described herein.